Manually triggering the iPhone/iPad/iPod keyboard from JavaScript

Question

I am developing an HTML code editor using simple DIV's and capturing events. When I use this on the iPad the keyboard never pops up since i'm not technically in an editable field.

Is there a way to programatically tell the iPad that I need a keybaord?

Answer 1

If your code is executed via something that was initiated via a user action then it will work.

E.g;

this works (pops keyboard):

<input type='text' id='foo'><div onclick='$("#foo").focus();'>click</div>

this doesn't work (input gets a border but no keyboard pop):

<input type='text' id='foo'>
<script>
  window.onload = function() {
    $("#foo").focus();
  }
</script>